Welcome new SisterBlogger!

Please join me in welcoming Sr. Sandy, CSJ, our newest SisterBlogger. A "religious cousin," of sorts, to our own Sr. Susan Rose, CSJP. Sr. Sandy is a member of the Baden, Penn. CSJ's.

She calls her blog NunSuch - the adventures of a techie nun. She's got several really engaging posts so far, and I look forward to getting to know her better through her writings. Read more about her at her about me page.

Welcome Sandy, and as always, thanks for your patience with our busy-ness as moderators! :)

Can it be???? A Sisterblogger roundup?

Miracles do happen. And as proof, I give you my first Sister Bloggers ring update from my room here in the Novitiate! My computer time is limited, so it will not be a complete update but it's a start!

Sr. Claire Joy discusses prayer requests.

Lisa & yours truly blogged about the 26th Anniversary of the death of the American Church women in El Salvador. (So did Julie but she's not a member of the ring, although she should be!)

Sr. Nicole celebrates the ordinary.

Sr. Lorraine is waiting.

Diana over at nunbytes is relaxing.

Sister Christer explores the colors of Advent.

Natty has found her joy just in time for Advent!

Futureihm is in the middle of an Immaculate Conception Novena.

Contemplative Woman contemplates what nuns are really about.

Sr. Steph contemplates the end/beginning of another (Church) year.

Whew! Lots going on in the sisterblogosphere.

I tag our newest moderator Sister Christer to do the next update at her leisure!!!

Advent Blessings to you all,
Sr. Susan (see my post to understand the emphasis)

Thank you for your patience!

Ok, dear Sisters (and wanna-be Sisters, and discerners, as well as the just plain curious who lurk about...), I've finally had a chance to get down to the ground floor where there's wireless internet access. It's a blustery Friday night, and the wind and icy snow are whipping and whirling outside here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What a better time to get all curled up on a comfy couch with the heat from my laptop and introduce our two newest ring members:

Nun Bytes is the alter ego of Sr. Diana Seago, OSB, a Benedictine from Mount St. Scholastica in Atchinson, Kansas. With an eye for design and a penchant for computers and networking, I'm sure Sr. Diana will be a welcome addition to the ring!

In the Footsteps of Mary is the blog of "an orthodox 15 year old Catholic who is discerning a vocation to the religious life." I seem to remember an email from her saying that she was having trouble getting the ring code added to her blog. I've gone ahead and added her, and will try to work with her to get the code put on in the coming days.

A thousand apologies for how long it's taken me to get to this. I recently moved in with my own Groovy Sisters (I'm still a "pre-candidate," but I'm that much closer to hopefully entering, and am feeling quite at home among "my nuns" once again!). I also started a new job just over a month ago that's been a bit challenging these past few weeks.

Sister Christer has kindly volunteered to lend a hand with the ring, and while I haven't yet "spoken" about this yet with our foundress, Sr. Susan Rose, I'm guessing that she, busy Novice that she currently is, will have no objections. So welcome aboard to our newest members and our newest co-moderator!

It's good to be back online myself!

I.O.U.

Three new potential ring members are in the queue, but I haven't gotten around to checking them out or adding them yet. So if you've recently applied to join the ring and are wondering just where everyone is, it's my fault, and I apologize. I hope to have you approved and added by the end of the day Sunday.

Peace, y'all!

Welcoming a new Ring Member

Please join me in welcoming Sister Nicole to the SisterBloggers web ring! Her blog is titled The Life of a New Sister. I believe she is currently in San Antonio Texas. She writes:

Here I am, having recently become a novice with the Daugthers of Mary Immaculate (more commonly known as the Marianist Sisters), and life has become a little different... exteriorly, actually, a lot different... interiorly, God's still working. :)

Go on over and read her first posts, and remember to give Sr. Nicole a big warm SisterBloggers welcome!!

sister blogger happenings this week

Yes, it’s a miracle. I’m finally getting around to doing my part wit a trip round the Sister Bloggers web ring!! (I’ve been a little bit preoccupied these days, understandably if you look at Natty’s last post). And so I give you (drumroll) a partial trip around the ring ...

Ann has been learning about Sister Dorothy Stang who was martyred in Brazil last year.

OSB Novice reflects on the power and pull of prayer from around the world.

Sr Claire Joy is struggling with continuing her blog.

Sr. Anne is on a home visit to New Orleans.

Sr. Marianne points out an interesting study of the mystic's brain!

Yours truly and Sr. Steph have been discovering how much we've changed the past 10 years (becoming a Sister of course being a BIG CHANGE).

And do yourself a favor, visit Sister Christer to follow the adventures of three travelling nuns and their friend the cow.

That's all for now. We'll see if I post updates MORE or LESS (if that's possible) frequently when I'm in the canonical novitiate.

Peace my sister bloggy friends
Sr. Susan Rose Francois, CSJP (I'm trying to get used to writing that one!!!)

Congratulations!!!

To the Brand New Sr. Susan Rose, CSJP upon her reception into the novitiate with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Seattle this weekend! All her "final" posts from Portland gave me goosebumps, and she has included pictures of her reception ceremony as well that filled me with joy.

I realize there are a few of you out there who are looking forward to a round-up, but all three of us who have volunteered to be responsible for that sort of thing have become pretty busy with offline life of late. So I will promise you my best intentions for a round-up in the near future, but in the meantime, go celebrate with Sr. Susan!!!

It's a Milestone

Living the Surrendered Life has the honor of being our 25th SisterBlogger! She says, I am a 22 year old Catholic young woman from Bellmawr, NJ. I have been discerning with the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, Pa, and hope to soon whenever God wills enter the community.

Welcome FutureihmNJ and congratulations!

They just keep a-comin'!

Well, we have yet another new SisterBlogger in our midst:

Please welcome osbnovice blogging at The Ear of Your Heart. I'm sure Sr. Steph will be delighted at this, our newest addition, seeing as how there's now another Benedictine among the ranks! (A thousand pardons if there are more OSB's in the ring that I'm forgetting just now!)

There's also another new blog waiting in the queue, and as soon as she puts the ring code in her sidebar she'll be in business too, so keep an eye out for yet another new SisterBlogger!

Welcome new ring member

Please welcome another new SisterBlogger, Pray.Seek.Live. She's only got one post so far, but I look forward to seeing what she has to say. I know for a fact that she is an interesting person with a wonderfully unique take on the world. Welcome, Ash! :)

Welcome new SisterBloggers!

Our first new ring member has simply changed addresses. She's "Just trying to be God's Little Pen" (formerly known as the Mystical Postulant). La Peregrina is a Sister-to-be (one day). A wannabe theology student. An American sufferer of "reverse culture shock", not sure where she belongs anymore.

I'm sure there are those among us who can relate!

Next, we welcome a Franciscan Sister in the Salvation Army in Cornwall UK, Evening Beaches. "By the Bay" introduces herself as a sister in the Salvation Army and novice in a religious order. I absolutely love it! Also tons of other stuff like gardening, teaching special needs, music, art, aiming to learn how to vlog, etc. Lots of fun.

And last, but certainly not least, may I introduce Naisei Suru: Self-Introspection: Finding My Vocation and Living It, a blog by a twenty-something high school English teacher and anime fanatic who made a comeback to Catholic spirituality three years ago. Right now she is mulling over to continue her promise to God to enter the convent or the monastery. "Self Introspection is all about reflections, vocations and living up to a personal calling to serve Him. What people may find in this journal are my own musings over what God has in store for me...and what I can do to fulfill every bit of it." I cheated a bit and let this site into the ring even though the code isn't there (yet). She's been waiting in the queue for quite a while now, and she really belongs among us. The issue is that she's using a LiveJournal and we cannot figure out how to get the Ring code to show up in her sidebar. Anyone out there know more about LiveJournal than we do who might be able to help her get the code on her page? If so, surf on over her way and help her out; we'd all be much obliged!

I had intended on doing a roundup as well, but I've got other tasks (and my mother) calling my name, and now I'm off to email our 3 new ring members to let them know that they're finally official SisterBloggers. Let us welcome them!

a partial circle 'round the ring

A quick (incomplete) trip around the ring shows that interesting things are afoot at the circle sisterbloggers!

Not to toot my own horn, but then again why not? I got a call from our Congregation Leader today. Sr. Sheila didn’t want me to have to wait till I got the letter in the mail to know that I’ve been accepted to the Novitiate!!!!!

Natty is becoming a pre-candidate with her groovy sisters!

Steph is failing to learn one of life’s lessons … again!

Sister Christer’s furry friend is turning up in interesting places!

And the Da Vinci Code is the topic of the day at nunblog and compelled by love.

That’ll have to do for now … I’m too excited about my news to do a complete roundup.

Peace, Joy & Sisterblogger Friendship to you all!!

You shall have life in abundance

[Updated 5/13/06, 10pm]

Please welcome TWO new members to our humble little WebRing:

Sr. Hildegard Magdalen Pleva, OSsR, of the Redemptoristine Nuns, hails from Esopus, New York, and shares with us her Monastic Musings. We've been working together to get the ring code added to her blog, and I can attest that she is quite pleasant and has several good reflections on her blog already.

Please also visit our newest member, Abiding on the Fringes. I haven't had a chance to get up to speed with her writings yet, but at first glance, it looks like good stuff!

Welcome!!

In a long-overdue round-up, it's a season of change for many SisterBloggers. And I've also noticed several posts reflecting on the topic of death and dying lately. Could be because I also have a friend who may be slipping away before my eyes.

Sr. Steph tries to get prepared for the passing of a dear friend, and there are other Sisters who may be going home soon as well...

Sister Christer has moved home to San Jose to care for her mother as she faces cancer.

Sr. Anne recently had a rather embarassing cell phone problem at a funeral. I say, if you're going to be disturbed by a cell phone during a funeral viewing, then "Regina Coeli" is about the most apropriate ring tone I can imagine!

Anne is looking for a job that's closer to where she lives, has a friend who could be facing cancer, and reflects on the recent murder conviction of the priest who killed a Sister in Toledo many years ago.

And in other topics...

Sister Mary Alternative has the vow of obedience blues. I'm sure several of you can relate!

Best Catholic Books asks, What's your favorite number?? as she's found herself meditating on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Soul_Seeker is off to Hondouras for a couple of weeks, and then posts something in Tagalog. Any translators out there? ;-)

Seeking_Something is trying to adjust to her new job, which for her includes finding a suitable time and place to attend daily mass.

Sister Claire Joy shares a beatiful 2(?)-part reflection on her friend Dan who recently passed away. She also reflects on her experience as a leader for a Cursillo weekend.

And finally, Susan Rose is on a Groovy-Sisters Reserves Weekend where she's meeting with the Province leadership team to discern her readiness to enter novitiate in the fall. Talk about transitions!!

Easter Week Roundup

Easter Blessings and greetings to all in the blogosphere who happen upon this gateway to Sister Blogger Land. This week you can read about many things on our blogs, including the following highlights:

Ann seems to be hooked on going to mass!

Lauren has taken a leap to the private sector and tells us six random things.

Sr Anne, Sr Clare Joy, and Lisa are also playing the six random things meme.
(I just realized Lisa tagged me so I'll work on that later tonight! Others of you were tagged too so you should check!)

Steph has discovered a new Gospel!

Nicole uses her new picture blog to tell us about the Veneration of the Cross.

Sr. Bernadette tells us where she's been.

I relive my childhood game of pawing through my mother's jewelry box to find super hero accessories.

And last but not least … Natty applies her higher education to office supply management.

Peace & Easter Joy to you all!

A Blogging Easter

Whats going on this Easter with ur wonderful Sisterbloggers? well, lets see who is doing what.

Anne, talks about the sirens and the bad weather that she has been having. Which my area is under some warnings at this moment. Anne also talks about a movie called Rwanda which is about true events that went on in Africa with the genocides. Its a very good movie and I do recommend it as a future movie night watch.

Cathy shows us a baptismal blanket that her and some friends have been working on. Great job!! Sister Claire Joy just wanted to sleep in on this wonderful Easter Sunday and evidently had forgotten what day it was or maybe she was just too far asleep....not sure, you might want to see for yourself!! Susan Rose had some wonderful Easter thoughts! Sister Ann shows us some pretty interesting things that her fellow Sisters have done, from baking to decorating, and something that Sister Ann made herself.....pretty interesting if you ask me!!!

That seems to be about everyone. Just a minor note to everyone inlcuding Lauren. I had to delete my blog Religious Life but re-opened it with a small entry. I was kinda asked to Close down all my blogs. I love bloggin but the Sisters felt I was giving too much information. So I started a new blog called Picture Perfect. Pictures are posted instead of words. So I hope you like this one too!!!

God Bless and Have a Wonderful DAY!!!

Mea Culpa

Sorry I didn't get a round-up done for this past week. I meant to, I really did. And Nicole even reminded me it was my week. But life got in the way this week.

And so if it's slow at work tomorrow, I'll see what I can pull together. Otherwise, y'all just have to do a random round-about-the-ring for yourselves. How about posting a comment about the most interesting post from the last week you found on one of the other SisterBloggers' Sites?

Yeah, that's called delegating all right! ;-)

Leavin' On A Jet Plane

Hey all, I am leavin' on a jet plane here in a short while to visit my mom in Arizona and wanted to do a quickie roundup before I head off. I've got lotsa packing and loose ends to tie up before I leave!

Lisa is talkin' bout conversion.

Susan Rose has recently met a bloggy buddy, 8-blocks from her place of work, has quit her job (not just yet) and is reflecting on suffering and how God strengthens us in times of suffering! (Great reflection).

Steph is talking about St. Benedict & celebrating his feast. School seems to be busy though, as usual. Steph's blog is looking awesome as usual.

Sr. Anne Joan, FSP, is back from Missouri and is celebrating the arrival of Sr. Susan here in Chicago. Now there will be four Daughters in Chicago! yippeeee.

Sr. Marriane Lorraine, FSP, is hanging out in Boston talking about the DaVinci code. I reccomend visiting her blog just to see this link. (Who do you believe? Dan Brown or Jesus?)

Sr. Bernadette, FSP, is still hanging out in Rome studying about the Pauline charism, taking in the beautiful sights (and taking lotsa pictures for us all) and celebrating Jubilee.

if you are reading this...Hi Sr. Bernadette. :)

(I just love the Daughters).... ;)

Nicole has not yet posted, but I can tell you that she is still in Alabama with the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word (via phone messages and text messages). Her flight was cancelled twice and......she is coming home with an application and will try to enter by July, God willing! So stop in and congratulate the little one if you have the time! She is really excited that she has found her home!

(I just love it when people take up their cross and follow Him)... ;)

Sr. Mary Alternative is baaaaack! She is a full time teacher and in grad school, so may not post as regularly as she did prior to January.

Natty is pondering organic foods and happy pills.

Lastly, I ask that you pray for me, as I venture off to Arizona. Also, I will be with the Daughters of St. Paul in Boston for a Holy Week discernment retreat. I am nervous, yet excited at the same time. :) Pray for me!

Everyone here is in my prayers as well! PEACE! ~Lauren

round and round we go

It’s my first round up under our group system! As you’ve probably noticed if you’ve been reading lately, Lauren, Natty, Sixtina & I have split up the weekly round up duties. Now it’s my turn to take a trip around the ring to see what’s up this week with our Sister Bloggers.

Well …. I took a giant leap of faith and quit my job today! There’s more to it than that, but you can go read for yourself.

Soul Seeker spent some time with her groovy sisters … who it turns out have been praying for her extra hard!

Sister Christer has a cool small world moment with a good friend looking at joining her community!

Sixtina is counting the days to her visit with the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word.

Lisa is stopping on her Lenten journey to check in and ask some questions.

Sr. Clare Joy has some questions too.

Talented Lauren shares a drawing inspired by the sorrowful mysteries.

And Anne has a new look and is getting her sillies out while she waits to meet with the vocation director!

That's all for now. Have a blessed 2nd week of Lent everyone!

RANDOMNESS!!!!

Okay ladies,

After doing a nice long roundup, many haven't updated which makes less for me to read...LOL ~ just kidding!!!! We have many different things going around in the ring this week! Like some fun questionnaires, great Lenten reads, reflections and people venting things out through their blogs.

So who is doing what???

Sr. Julia tells us about this good book called Bread and Wine, which she reads every year for Lent. So if you need something to read, just ask Sister!!!!

Lauren wrote a nice reflection on her idol, Thomas Merton, with a nice drawing of him as well.

Cathy had a wonderful questionnaire that I think everyone in the ring should post and answer. "DO YOU WEAR A CROSS?" Not to get into my life, but I was explaining the importance of wearing a crucifix to my CCD class last night. They were shocked that I wear my cross 24-7!

Natty has a questionnaire that she stole from Seeking something. So I guess everyone should also do this one since we are all out of high school (to bring back those wonderful memories)!!!!

Susan rose is venting out her frustrations through her blog which to me seemed interesting but....then again...its up to you after you are done reading it! However, Susan isnt the only one frustrated with things, Sr. Mary Alternative is having a hard time from keeping herself from yelling at her students. Dont worry, I know how you feel, my CCD kids dont listen either!!!!

Thats it for those who updated. As for me, I'm leaving next thursday to visit the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word. So when I get back I will have day by day jounral entries for you all to read.

Have a WONDERFUL Lent!!!

My first round-up!

Well, I've been plugging away at this, my very first round-up, for a couple of days now, so I think it's time to just post what I've got so far...

Many of us are speaking of Lent:

Cathy's got a really neat idea for her Lenten journey, 40 miles in 40 days. What a cool idea!

Sr. Marianne Lorraine has posted a cute Lenten poem that'll be running through your head for hours after you read it! I say we should all make up our own verses to add on to it!

Sister Christer posts the first in a neat 3-part series on giving lent.

Sr. Julia tells us about her favorite Lent book... though it seems like she had a hard time narrowing it down to just one!

Sr. Claire Joy has posted a couple of neat pictures on the event of Ash Wednesday.

Lisa asks, "What is your guiding question this Lent?" Good question... It seems I'm always a Lenten-day-late-and-a-penance-short... *sigh*

Sr. Steph shares some "Ash Wednesday Scriptural Scribblings."

Sr. Ann talks about her holiday socks (yes, she's even got an "Ash Wednesday" pair!) the proceeds to tell us that there's Dirt on Your Face!

And finally, Lauren has posted some nunly pictures from her time at the Here I Am Lord Conference in St. Charles, IL and our busy foundress, Susan Rose, (*wink*) is on retreat until this weekend.

We may have yet another new ring member too--once her site quits giving me a 404 error!

If I've missed you or you'd like to point us in your direction (this was not an exhaustive round-up--it's been an exhausting week!) please leave a comment. Happy weekend, and for some of you, happy Spring Break already!

New Member and New Round Up!

Hello All!

I cannot believe it's almost March already! I would like to welcome Amandita from Maryland! She is our newest edition to Sister Bloggers and her blog is titled: The Mystical Postulant.
Check it out and see what she is up to!

In other news...

Sr. Julia is hanging out in New Orleans and is raving about the Holy Father's Encyclical which can be purchased through the Daughters of St. Paul website! Whooo hoooo, it is finally available off line and in print! Get your copy, click here to order the Holy Father's Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est! I highly recommed reading it, it is fantabulous!

Cathy is still busy knitting, but has just so excited to welcome her friends newest edition, Sophia Elizabeth, to the world as well! Sixtina also has some good friends who are welcoming a new bundle of joy! Congrats..!! Sixtina will be going to visit The Sister Servants in Alabama for a discernment retreat in March, please keep her in your prayers as she embarks on this faith-filled journey!

Sr. Claire Joy went to go see Brokeback Mountain and Sr. Steph is busy with parent teacher conferences. I remember those....tee hee

Sr. Marianne Lorraine is reflecting upon sin and preparing for Lent, Lisa is also quite reflective.

Diana is also busy teaching as well and misses the Phillipines (don't be homesick, we love you). She is also keeping the victims of the Landslide in her prayers (we are here as well Diana).

On another note, Sr. Bernadette is still in Rome studying..she was able to watch the opening of the Olympics and we hope to hear from her soon. She is currently incognito eating homemade spaghetti at an unknown location in Italy or busy learning something about the founders of her community. We miss you!

Speaking of the Daughters of St. Paul, Sr. Anne always has something interesting to say on her blog! I think it's great we have such a great Pauline presence! ;)

Natty is hanging out with her Beagles and got a "Minnie Mouse".

Sr. Mary Alternative is on a "blogger fast".

Sr. Christer is talking about her shooting accident. I wonder if it involved a Daisy Brand Red Ryder BB rifle...??...or if she shot her eye out? You'll have to read and find out kids...

Susan has asked Natty, Sixtina and myself to update the site with monthly roundups, so here I am...and here is the roundup. If anyone is interested in joining the ring, send me a message or email me through my blog and I will be glad to add you. If anyone needs the ring code to add to their blog, contact me for that as well.

Hope all is well and everyone has a Blessed Lent. May you find the risen Christ in all you seek and do! Talk to you all after Easter (or around therebouts). + Lauren+

New Moderator(s)

Hey all, I have agreed to do some moderating (with Natty) and do some updating to the Sister Bloggers ring since Susan Rose has a lot on her plate. You all prolly already know me from my blog, Compelled By Love. I would just like to say I am open to any suggestions if you may have them.

Thanks and May God bless us all! ~Lauren

new members .... new moderator?

Hi all. We've got two new members.

Best Catholic Blogs
NunKnits

You'll notice it's been ages since I've last posted a round up.

I must admit I don't really have time to manage a web ring, even one this small.

Anyone interested in taking over????

Drop a comment if so.

what's up Sister?

A random trip around the ring tells us that …

Lauren’s getting centered

Lisa is musing about community

Sr. Steph is sharing some very real feelings with her community.

Cathy’s on the look out for some mittens (no word if a kitten has lost them!)

Things are looking up for seeking something. Good thing too ‘cause they were looking kind of scary for a while there!

And Sr. Ann made a feast fit for a Cardinal!